The Washington critic., 1887-06-15
. ASHlNGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, JUNE Is, lss7.
GOSSIP OLD AND NEW.

os a curiosity, the announcement Of the
marriage of daughter of his paternal
great.great grandfather as 1t was pub.
lished in the newspapers of New Jer.
sey 1876 years ago. II reads as follows:
On Thursday last Francis Hopkinson, Esq,
was Joined In tho velvet bands OF Hy men TO
Miss Nancy Borden Of this place, a lady noted
both for her internal as well as external ac-
eompllshments, and, In the words OF the cele
brated poet
without all shining aud within all white;
Pure to the sense and pleasing to the sight.
Miss Nancy Borden was daughter
OF General Borden, who laid out the
city Of Bordentown, N. j., and he was
also the grandfather Of Sunset Cox's
grandmother. Francis Hopkinson was
one of the scholars of Revolutionary
days. He wrote number of humorous
and patriotic poetical pieces, among
which were the Battle of the Kegs"
and others. He was a graduate Of
Princeton, a signer Of the Declaration
Of Independence. and Member Of Con.
gress. His son Joseph was one of the
ablest lawyers of his time, and was the
author of "Hail Columbia"
Speaking Of Hail Columbia" the
music Of this song was at first known
as the PRESIDENTS March," and 1t
used to be played while Washington
was President by the orchestra as he
came into the theatre. Its music was
composed by fellow named Pfyles,
and 1t was played for the first time on
Trenton bridge as Washington rode
over II on his way to be inaugurated.
1t became popular at once, and Hop,
kinson wrote and adapted these lines
to 1t, beginning "EIail Columbia" dur.
Ing political campaign while John
Adams was President. The name
Presidents March" was then dropped
and 1t has since been known as "Hail
Columbia"
".
II am one of the few people who
ever saw Abraham Lincoln angry"
The remark was made to me while l
was going down to Mount Vernon the
other day by well.kuown woman In
Washington soclety-a woman who has
lived here for the past thirty years,
and who was On intimate friend of
President Lincoln's.
"It was" she went on, cat the time
the news of the massacre at Fort Pill,
low was received at the White House.
had called upon President Lincoln
affected and he could hardly contain
his feelings. At this moment young
woman whose young brother was con.
fined In one of our prisons called. Her
brother had been Confederate soldier.
Hehad been drafted In the army and had
served against his will. He was under
age at the time, and the circumstances
Of the case were extraordinary. Presi.
Loaf 81, 1,aI 4
the case, and If possible, intercede in
1t. The young woman had an
appointment for this day and
the President had told her that he
would give her an answer. He told
her, impatiently shaking his head,
that he could not do anything for her
just then. They have treated my
boys cruelty" said he. land l can not
and will not do anything just now."
The young woman persisted and
pleaded her case most feelingly, but the
President would not relent. He told
her she must call again, that he could
not grant any request at such time.
doubt not that he afterwards released
her brother, for he was very kind.
hearted, and It was seldom that sup.
plant, whose case merited attention,
was permanently turned away"
The conversation here turned to Mrs.
Lincoln, and the lady told me some
stories which carry out the general
idea now entertained of her, and the
troubles which President Lincoln had
in keeping peace with her. She thought
the best explanation for the whole was
that the woman was not entirely com.
pos mentis, and that her actions upon
The death of Lincoln should be par
doned on this ground. "Mrs. Lincoln,
said she, "sent q request to the collec.
tor of the port of New York for money
as consideration for her having OBJ.
tained him his appointment, and l
know the story about the sale of Presi-
dent Lipcoln's shirts and Of her dresses
to be true"
~
From another source get a story of
Mrs. Lincoln's jealousy Of her husband
which has never been published, but
which shows how this jealousy cropped
out long before he became President.
He was with his wife on visit to n
friend at little town in Illinois. do
not give the town nor the friend s
name, for the reason that the man Is
living, and the story comes to me
rather In confidence. Lincoln's friend
and himself had gone down into the
town, and the friend had said to him
that this was his wife's birthday, and
that he must 60 into book store and
buy her present. The two entered
the store together, and the man bought
an elegant album for his wife. 1t cos
$40, and 1t was the only one of thi
price in the store. Lincoln then
said to his friend, II think
will buy one for Mary" and he
bought the next prettiest album left,
which cost only half the amount of that
of his friend. When the two arrived
at the house Lincoln threw his pack
age into his wife's lap, and said
MARY, have bought you present .
She opened II, saw the album, and was
delighted. A moment later his friend
arrived and presented his album to his
wife as birthday present. AS soon
as Mrs. Lincoln saw that the other al.
bum was finer than hers she became
very indignant. She spoke sharply to
Mr.. Lincoln, burst into flood of tears
and taking the album laid 1t upon the
bed of glowing Goals in the fireplace
1t burned to cinders In an instant
hDlu uiuhi iJihNOiu suli uOtnlug' III
must have been greatly provoked, but
the great forbearance Of his nature
enabled him to overlook things which
other men would not have tolerated fol
an instant. This is only specimen OF
The trials which he had to undergo dur
ing his married life. Some of his
greatest victories were not nationa
ones. Truly, che that controlleth hi,
spirit is greater than he that conquer:
Il city,"
%"a
Opie Reed, the humorist of the
Arkansaw 1rdroller, says that Edwin
Cowles of the Cleveland Leader canno
understand joke. Opie is mistaken
Mr.. Cowles delights In practical jokes